Improvement in portable cradles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. HARRIS, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE CRADLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,069, dated December 30,1873; application filed November 8, 1873.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, W. S. HARRIS, of Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Cradles; and I do i hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference be'- ing had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is an under-side plan view of :my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, showing part of cradle folded.

My invention has for its object to provide a portable cradle, designed principally for the use of travelers. The nature of the invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described.

The part of the cradle which corresponds in purpose with the mattress and sustainingslats usually employed consists of a rectangular hammock or sack, of suitable textile materia-l. This hammock is sustained upon a Wooden frame, which is pivoted at each end upon Ashaped legs, said frame and legs being provided with hinges, so that they can be compactly folded, for convenient transportation, in a trunk or traveling-bag. The supporting-frame, when extended, is held in position by an encircling band, which may be ornamented, so as to give the cradle a finished and elegant appearance.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A is a hammock or sack, of rectangular form, sustained in the frame B by means of rods a c passing through the side rails B1 B1, and through pockets or loops on the hammock, and by the clamps al al, engaging, as shown, with said side rails. Theframe B is of the usual rectangular shape, jointed at its middle, as shown at b, and having hinged headand foot boards B2. It is also hinged at each of its four corners, as shown at b1 b2. C C are the legs, hinged at their apexes c c, and ai'ordl ing bearings for the pins or journals a2 in the end pieces of the frame B. By means of this pivotal arrangement, the desired rocking mo are provided With hooks Ve e to facilitate their j attachment to the hammock.

The above is a description of the cradle ar-` ranged ready for occupancy.

In order to pack the cradle for transportation, the band D is first removed, the cords E unhooked, the rods a a withdrawn, the hammock A taken out of the frame, and the latter lifted oif the legs C C. The frame B is then doubled up until the head and foot boards come together. The side rails are then folded over upon said head and foot boards, one side rail resting upon the other, which it is enabled to do by reason of the peculiar construction of the hinges b2, which are bent `in such manner as to bring their joints on the same plane With the upper surface of the other rail, B1, when folded; or, in other words, and as shown in Fig. l, the hinges b2 have their joints a distance from the corner of the frame B equal to the thickness of the side rails. The head and foot boards are then folded up against the side of the rails Bl, and the folded legs C placed between-one pair of `said legs above and one below. The folded hammock and en# U circling band D, together With the rods, may

then be added, and the several parts tied by the cords E E, the Whole device thus packed requiring but -a small amount of space in a trunk.

What I claim as my invention is i l. The combination, with aportable cradle, having the side rails hinged at their middle parts to fold vertically, and at their ends to fold laterally', as described and shown, of the hinges b2, having their pintles located sufficiently forward of the corner-posts of the cradle, and ofthe pintles of hinges b1, to allow` the side rails to overlap parallel to each other, as specified.

. 2. The A- shapediegs C, hinged or jointed at their apexes, and affording pivotal hearings for the frame B, substantially its shown and described. l

3. In combination With the rocking frame B and hammock A7 the cords E, substantially as shown and described.

In testimon5T that I claim the foregoing` I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of N0- Vember, 1873.

WILLIAM S. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

S. S. JAMIsoN, M. DANL. CONNOLLY. 

